After bagging a victory, CVU hoop boys go to Rice Friday

Tuesday night’s battle of the birds at the Bremner Nest in Hinesburg went to the Champlain Valley Union High boys basketball Redhawks. Next up for the 4-4 bounceball barons: Friday’s 7 p.m. appearance at undefeated Rice Memorial.

“We usually play pretty well there,” said CVU Coach Scott Bliss.

The veteran Green Knights are coming off a 2012 trip to the Division 1 championship game.

CVU put away the visiting North Country Union High Falcons 60-49 with some ironic doings in the final minutes to assure the triumph over the 1-6 Northeast Kingdom natives.

After going a dismal zero-for-seven from the charity stripe throughout the contest, the Redhawks hit eight free throws in the tense late minutes. Veteran forward Brad Bissonette (14 points, six rebounds, at least four assists) snapped the futility string with two expertly swished free tosses with 2 minutes and 23 seconds remaining to boost CVU to a 54-49 edge.

Austin Busch (three), Bissonette again (two) and Will Jonah all notched foul line flips at closing time to finish off the scoring.

North Country used a 1-2-2 zone defense and eight three-point bombs to stay in the game.

After going a chilly five-for-19 from the floor in the opening stanza, CVU zeroed in and shot better than 50 percent (20-for-38) from the second period on. Big inside operator Lucas Aube led the way with 22 points with 11-for-15 accuracy. The big guy also played the muscle game well with a game-leading 10 rebounds.

After taking a shaky 28-27 lead at intermission, the Redhawks generally had the better of play in the second half, opening up six and eight point leads with patient passing for open shots around and through the NCU zone, only to see the Falcons close the gaps with treys.

The Redhawks took the lead for good when fired-up reserve forward Ryan Beaudry hit a pair of inside shots in traffic late in the third quarter to snap a 38-all deadlock. Aube then caged a bucket at the end of the period and another to start the final reel for a 46-38 CVU edge from which the Falcons never recovered.

Bliss praised the work of his bench including Beaudry, guard Ed Myers and Brandon O’Connell, an inside presence.

Last Thursday, the Redhawks fell 58-47 to visiting Mount Mansfield as quickie guard Nick Bergeron tore up the CVU defense for 26 points including 11 of 13 free throws, his nimble sorties through the Hawks’ defenders resulting in frequent trips to the line.

Forward Joe Chevalier hit six of seven shots to lead CVU with 15 points. Brad Bissonette had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists.

The junior varsity bowed to MMU but rebounded Tuesday night with a 67-51 win over North Country.